Does an instance occur among them of froward or vicious conduct? Let it be urged as an indication of that depravity which we inherit from nature. That depravity may then be traced through its various ramifications, and a solemn appeal made to the conscience whether under one shape or another it is not found almost constantly operating. Thus let the true state of man, as a sinful depraved creature, be explained, ' and the dispositions which such a state requires, of humiliation, repentance, and vigilance, be frequently and seriously enforced.

Are the pupils called to witness an instance of laborious industry? Let it afford an opportunity of reminding them of the great business of man in this transitory life :-not to cat and to drink, which are useful only in order to sup. port life, and therefore are not to be considered as its end not to toil and labour, which are only valuable as the means of procuring the necessary food and raiment not to play and take plea sure, for the pleasures of man are few and fleeting, his labours constant. Let them be informed that there is a higher and nobler end which the Creator has proposed to man; the discharge of the duties which he has required of him; his restoration to that original state of purity from which he has fallen; and a preparation, by obedience to the will of God, for a far better state above. Let them be made sensible that there is but one thing needful; that however they may prosper in the world, if the great work which their Creator has given them to do is neglected, it were good for them that they had never been born: but that, if this great work is pursued steadily and constantly, however poor the lot may be in this world, they will be blessed with invaluable blessings.

Have they heard of the departure of a neighbour or friend? Let them be led to inquire where the soul goes upon its departure from the body. Let the solemn account, which all must render at the tribunal of Christ, be set before them with all its awful solemnities. Let the misery and horror of eternal condemnation be described, and the unspeakable happiness and glory of the blessed in heaven be represented to

them.

At the same time let it be strongly inculcated on their minds, that death is not to be considered as a calamity, but a blessing to all who are living according to the will of God.

In the views given of God, all possi ble care should be taken to represent him according to the character exhibit ed of him in scripture: as a being infinitely good and gracious, yet the avenger of sin: as the holy judge of the world, though the gracious father of all who come to him in the name of Christ. Abundant opportunities will offer, which should be readily embraced, of bring. ing into view his character and perfec tions. His bounty and goodness should be frequently pointed out, and occasion taken to represent him in a light calcu lated to excite thankfulness and love. The mention of his name should be ac companied with such expressions of gratitude, affection, and trust, as may be likely to kindle similar emotions in the breasts of the scholars. The effects of his displeasure should be frequently and forcibly illustrated, and the condi tion of those who are alienated from God should be described with mixed pity and horror. Reference ought to be continually made to him as the judge of our conduct. Has a boy done wrong? The chief reason why he is culpable should be stated to be that he has offended God, and transgressed his commandment. The inconveniences or evil consequences of sin, or the tem poral punishment which attends it, should not be held out as motives to deter from sin, so much as the simple consideration that it has been forbidden by God, and is displeasing to him. Trust ought to be cherished in the providence of God. He should be represented as the father of the whole family in earth and heaven, feeding even the young ravens which cry to him, at the same time that he gives to the highest archangel every thing needful for his support and enjoyment. His word ought ever to be appealed to as the guide of our conduct; and the au thority of scripture should be habitually assigned by the pupils as the warrant of their conduct. The highest degree of reverence for the Bible should be al ways shewn, and the particulars in

which it differs from all other books should be carefully pointed out. The necessity of daily prayer to God should be frequently enforced: and the nature of true prayer should be represented as a solemn act of communion with the father of our spirits; as an act of homage to our sovereign, of gratitude to our benefactor, and confession to our judge.

But, above all, the character of God, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the wonderful proof which he has given of his love in sending his only begotten Son to die for sinners, should be fully displayed. The manner in which this love is mentioned should indicate the teacher's sense of its infinite superiority to all other instances of goodness; and the obligations on our part resulting from it should be represented as of the deepest kind.

On these views of God, and of our redemption by his beloved Son, should be founded every idea that is imparted of the nature of religion; which should ever be represented, not as a burdensome service imposed on us, but as a just and reasonable tribute of duty and affection to the best of masters, and the most bountiful of benefactors. Much pains should be taken to give just views of the nature and necessity of religion. It should be described as consisting, not in mere forms and ceremonies, but in a constant obedience to God, and in living according to the laws which he has prescribed in his word. The character of a real christian should be often largely delineated, and a great variety of particulars stated, by which it may be distinctly perceived what is his main pursuit, his spirit and temper, his aim and endeavour.

At the same time it must not be concealed, that such is not the character of the greater part of the world. The distinction between real and nominal christians should be very fully explain. ed. And the state of man, in general, as it will assuredly appear in real life, should be plainly declared to them, and shewn to be what the scripture has foretold, and what indeed might naturally be expected from the corruption of hu.

man nature,

While these instructions are conveyed, frequent opportunities will be given for forcible appeals to the conscience. Indeed, much pains should be taken to strengthen the power of conscience. The scholars should constantly be referred to their own consciences in cases of suspected guilt. They should be habituated to reverence themselves, and to feel more deeply the reproach of their consciences, than the censures of others. The sting of conscience should be stated as the severest part of the punishment of guilt to an ingenuous mind. A tender conscience, jealous of right, should be commended as an excellent quality, highly to be esteemed by man, and honourable in the sight of God: while, on the other hand, a hard heart, and unfeeling conscience, should be spoken of with dread, as indi cating the highest degree of depravity.

In all cases, where a fault has been repeatedly committed, particular care should be taken to inculcate the neces sity of divine help, to subdue a besetting sin; and the offender should be urged to pray earnestly to God for grace to purify his heart, and strengthen him to resist temptation. Thus the mind should be accustomed to look up constantly to that invisible power who is ever near to us, as a witness, a judge, a protector, and a father.

It is not however intended that oral instructions should supersede the necessity of committing to memory catechisms, or other formularies of religious knowledge: such instructions, on the contrary, may be grounded on these. It is only designed to inculcate that a constant reference to the great truths of religion should be made, in such a manner as may be most likely to produce the deepest impression on the heart.

I have now mentioned the principal objects which should engage the attention of the superintendant of a school, and endeavoured to explain the methods by which these objects may be best attained It remains only, at a future opportunity, to add a few miscellaneous remarks, adapted to promote the same purpose.

N. D.

WHEN the following communication was received, we were disposed to suppress it, as may be seen by our answers to correspondents for September: but on farther consideration, we thought that a natural and simple solution of the phenomena which it relates, might be useful to the writer of the narrative, and to such of our readers as might not have paid attention to subjects of this kind. We have, therefore, determined to insert it.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. A LADY who resides near Milford Haven, a subscriber to your invaluable work, so much wanted in these degenerate times, when atheism and infidelity have overcome christianity in a most alarming manner, wishes to have inserted in the Christian Observer an account of two awful visions which have been seen near the place of her residence, thinking it might be the means of converting some from the dreadful supineness and delusion they are under: as from her knowledge of the scriptures, and what is now acting on the stage of the world, she believes the prophecies are very near their full accomplishment, and that all true believers are of that opinion. The first vision was seen by Captain Jones, of the James Tender, lying at Milford. He says, that on Thursday the 19th July last, about six or seven o'clock in the evening, he saw the vision of seven ships in the element at the harbour's mouth in action, and could distinguish the French and English colours; after an hour's action, an angel appeared with a trumpet, which, when he blew, all vanished away. The captain called all the impressed men out of the hold, who saw them as well as himself. It has been much talked of at Milford, and the captain is willing to make his affidavit of it, but as the men are now dispersed in different ships, their collected testimony could not be had.

The other vision is related to the lady by a woman of whom she has

the highest opinion for her honesty, faithfulness, and veracity, so that she places the greatest reliance on what she says. The writer of this has also conversed with the woman, and heard her relation of it. She, Margaret Thomas, says, that on the 19th July last, she went with her daughter to Haverfordwest; it was late when they returned home. Between ten and ele ven o'clock her daughter happened to go to the front door, and called her mother to look at the moon, when she saw something in the form of a cross hover to and fro over the moon. The cross appeared black. The moon ther divided into three parts, a considera ble distance from each other, not in different directions, but perpendicu lar.

In a few minutes it dwindled away, in appearance as small as a rush light, and entirely disappeared. In about two minutes the moon appeared again, in a strange figure, and an a ful form, much like a woman in deep mourning, with a hood on her head, covering her face, in a bending pos ture, to the earth; it remained so for a short time, then disappeared, swift as a star shot from the heavens. The horizon was clear, not a cloud passing at the time. She does not know how long the vision lasted, as it was begun before she saw it. She made her son, a boy of twelve years of age, write it down in her own words, that there might be no variation in the details given of it.

If it should be agreeable to your plan, the lady would be glad to see an account of these visions in your work, if not, the writer of this re quests that a reason may be assigned, in the Observer for September, for its non-insertion, that she may be satisfied of her request to have it sent to the editor has been attended to.

digies, announcing certain events about to take place. We, on the contrary, supposing the facts to be authentic, and related with tolerable exactness, consider them as mere natural occurrences; and we shall accordingly proceed to shew, that such phenomena are neither extraordinary in their nature, nor unfrequent in their appearance. There is a certain state of the atmosphere that occasionally takes place in this country, and in other parts of the world, in which those rays of light that pass in a par ticular direction are refracted in an uncommon degree, and produce the appearance of aerial spectra. Under these circumstances distant objects are apparently elevated to a considera. ble altitude, while they are, at the same time, rendered more distinctly visible.

A great variety of curious phenomena, depending on atmospherical refraction, have been long known to philosophical observers; and the explanation given of them is not difficult to be understood by those who are moderately versed in the science of optics. For the sake of those of our readers, who may not have paid atten. tion to this subject, we shall present them with a few specimens of the effects of atmospherical refraction, which have been collected from the most authentic writers on this subject.

1. One of the most familiar instantes of atmospherical refraction occurs near London, and may be observed by any person standing on the side of the Thames at Greenwich, when it is high water there. He may then see the cattle grazing on the Isle of Dogs, a marshy meadow, situated on the opposite side of the river. When it is low water, the cattle cannot be seen, being hid by the land, wall, or bank on the other side, which is raised higher than the surface of the marsh, to prevent its being overflowed by the Thames at high water.

2. In the transactions of the American Philosophical Society is the following letter from Mr. Andrew Elliott, dated Pittsburg, November 5, 1787.

"On the 13th of last month, about ten o'clock in the morning, as I was walking on the beach, I discovered something that had the appearance of land in the direction of Presqu'isle: about noon it became more conspicuous, and when viewed by a good achromatic telescope, the branches of the trees could be plainly discovered. From three o'clock in the afternoon till dark, the whole peninsula was considerably elevated above the horizon, and viewed by all our company with admiration. There was a singular appearance attending this phenomenon. The peninsula was frequently seen double, or rather two similar peninsulas one above the other, with an appearance of water between. The next morning Presqu'isle was invisible, and remained so during our stay. Presqu'isle was about twentyfive miles distant, its situation very low."

3. We shall now transcribe a short account of the well known optical phenomenon, called Fata Morgana, or the Castles of the Fairy Morgana, which is often seen in the air, and in the Sea, in the Straits of Messina. When the rising sun shines from that point whence its incident ray forms an angle of about forty-five degrees on the Sea of Reggio, and the bright surface of the water in the bay is not disturbed either by the wind or the current, the spectator being placed on an eminence of the city with his back to the sun and his face to the sea, on a sudden there appear in the water, as in a catoptric theatre, numberless series of pilasters, arches, castles well delineated, regular columns, lofty towers, superb palaces with balconies and windows, extended alleys of trees, plains with flocks and herds, armies of men on foot and on horseback, and many other strange images, in their natural colours and proper actions, passing rapidly in succession along the surface of the water, during the whole of the short period of time while the above-mentioned causes remain. But if the atmosphere be at the same time highly impregnated with vapour, it then happens, that in

this vapour, as on a curtain extended along the channel to the height of about thirty palms, and nearly down to the sea, the observer will behold the scene of the same objects, not only reflected from the surface of the sea, but likewise in the air. If the air be slightly hazy and opaque, and at the same time humid and adapted to form the Iris, then the abovementioned objects will appear only at the surface of the sea, but all vividly coloured, or fringed with red, green, blue, and other prismatic colours. P. Minasi, the author of this account, says, that he has himself seen this appearance three times, and that he would rather behold it again than the most superb theatrical exhibition in the world. This author, while describing the city of Reggio, and the neighbouring coast of Calabria, shews, that all the images which are exhibit ed in the Fata Morgana are derived from objects on the shore.

4. The following letter written by William Latham, Esq. F. R. S. and A. S. is transcribed from the Philosophical Transactions, dated Hastings, Aug. 1, 1797. "On Wednesday last, July 26, about five o'clock in the afternoon, whilst I was sitting in my dining-room, at this place, which is situated upon the parade close to the sea-shore, nearly fronting the south, my attention was excited by a great number of people running down to the sea side. Upon inquiring the reason, I was informed that the coast of France was plainly to be distinguished with the naked eye. I immediately went down to the shore, and was surprised to find that, even without the assistance of a telescope, I could very plainly see the cliffs on the opposite coast; which, at the nearest part, are between forty and fifty miles distant, and are not to be discerned, from that low situation, by the aid of the best glasses. They appeared to be only a few miles off, and seemed to extend for some leagues along the coast. The sailors and fishermen could not, at first, be persuaded of the reality of the appearance; but they soon became so thoroughly convinced, by the cliffs gradually appearing more elevated, and up

proaching nearer, as it were, that they pointed out and named to me the diffe rent places they had been accustomed to visit: such as, the Bay, the Old Head or Man, the Windmill, &c. at Boulogne; St. Vallery, and other places on the coast of Picardy; which they af terwards confirmed when they viewed them through their telescopes. Their observations were, that the places appeared as near as if they were sailing, at a small distance, into the harbours. shore for near an hour, during which Having indulged my curiosity upon the more bright and near, at others more the cliffs appeared to be at some times faint and at a greater distance, but never out of sight, I went upon the eastern cliff or hill, which is of a very conside rable height, when a most beautiful scene presented itself to my view; for I could at once see Dungeness, Dover Cliffs, and the French coast, all along t; from Calais, Boulogne, &c. to St. Vallery, and, as some of the fishermen af firmed, as far to the westward even as Dieppe. By the telescope, the French fishing-boats were plainly to be seen at anchor, and the different colours of the land upon the heights, together with the buildings, were perfectly discernible. This curious phenomenon continued in the highest splendour u past eight o'clock, when it gradually vanished."

5. The following account of the ef. fect of atmospherical refraction is extracted from the Bakerian Lecture, written by Professor Vince, and read before the Royal Society, Nov. 15, 1798. The effects of atmospherical refraction were observed by him at Ramsgate, August 1, 1797, from about half an hour after four o'clock in the afternoon till between seven and eight. The day had been extremely hot, and the evening was very sultry; the sky was clear, with a few flying clouds.

"Directing my telescope at random, to observe any objects which might hap pen to be in view, I saw the top of the masts of a ship above the horizon; st the same time also, I discovered in the field of view two complete images of the ship in the air, vertical to the ship itself, the one being inverted, the other erect, having their hulks joined. The

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